CHAPTER 15: 'CONGRATULATIONS'

(Originally Published Monday December 29, 2014)

I’ll never forget the time I saw a billboard of Drake up in Toronto. I was with a few family members, cruising toward the downtown core, and somewhere between exiting the highway on Lakeshore Blvd and driving toward the inner city, there was an extremely large billboard of Drake sitting on top of a medium-sized building. I can’t remember the photo exactly—though I think it was for a radio station and that Drake was in some sort of crouched position with a possible fist under his chin or maybe folded arms—but I do remember my excitement at the time and the feeling of great congratulations toward this person I didn’t even know! But I felt like I knew him through the music and that was enough for me to feel his achievement as if it were my own.

            Suffice it to say that that billboard was only a small part of a bigger picture that had an even bigger outcome; but, to me, it was another example of someone doing what was deemed impossible based on hard work and believing in himself and I couldn’t have felt more exalted. Drake was on his way, becoming everything Toronto, and it was finally Canada’s turn to be put on the map.

            Naturally, the song joint to this experience is ‘Congratulations’ from my version of The Empire and Drake (which I just found out is a Special Edition. Some sources say it's on So Far Gone, but it wasn't in my version ...) semi-featuring Lil Wayne. I probably don’t have to tell you, but this song is another favourite of mine. Drake’s lazy flow and copious punch-lines on top of a sample of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida make it one of the best portrayals of a classic Drake combination: Dope-ass lines on a dope-ass sample. And I’ll put my favourite bars below just to prove it!

            See you Thursday!!!

I’m still myself, suicide bars I kill myself

Charge it to the game; I’ll bill myself

And I don’t feel ya’ll, but I feel myself

I’m next to blow … pause

Again-dammit-ya'll, again

Ya'll pretend that we are some men that get it on and in
I die before I lose ‘cause I was born to win
If he don't fuck with ya'll then don't bother him
And yes I fucked this game, but I won't father them

I got the key to happiness and all the copies
Remember this day like you bought a POPPY

Surprise party Bitch now it's on and poppin’
I always choose dough like it's my only option
… ‘Cause money always knows best
“Chain Snatch Flow” they say “Get it off yo’ chest!”

DRAKE - CONGRATULATIONS       

Chapter 15: Congratulations. / Written By: Jae Antoinette

AFFION:

Who’s the man? That’s right. I’m the man! Me: The real Don Dotta. Nobody’s got it like I got it right now and I know a certain little filly who wouldn’t disagree.

            It’s nice to know what I’m capable of when I put my mind to it—too bad I didn’t have to do much! I don’t know if that’s a testament to the kind of brain power I can cultivate or that some things are just meant to be; but I got it like that anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. I got the girl, I got the world, and now anything is possible. Congratulations to me ...  

TO BE CONTINUED ... 



PRE-NEW YEARS TIE-IN BONUS:
DRAKE - MAN OF THE YEAR (FT. LIL WAYNE)

See you next year!